I’ve been fascinated with Los Angeles natives LIILY and their raw, unbridled blend of rock and roll ever since I first heard their inaugural single “Toro” a little over a year ago, but until just recently, I wasn’t completely sure how that sort of rawness would translate in person. Last month I had the opportunity to catch them as direct support for Bad Suns, and I was not disappointed.
The entire set is perhaps best embodied by their roaring new single “Wash,” which they played a few songs in. The unrelenting rocker feels equal parts punk and grunge and features an infectious cowbell-driven groove at the song’s forefront, a slight departure from the quartet’s debut earlier this year. “Wash” offers up a fresh take on LIILY’s unique sound, while still retaining that balance of youthful energy and surprising maturity that I harped on when reviewing I Can Fool Anybody In This Town back in March.
It was no surprise to me, however, that LIILY’s set took on this punk sort of vibe overall, a vibe which served as a stark contrast to the other two acts, Bad Suns and opener Ultra Q. The Los Angeles’ layered riffing throughout certainly kept things interesting. Because their catalog is so brief, it was easy for LIILY to play through the majority of their songs, including their two hit singles “Toro” and “Sold,” in addition to a couple of unreleased gems, all during their short time up on stage.
My only conceivable gripe with their set was the fact that they neglected their third single from I Can Fool Anybody In This Town: “Sepulveda Basin.” As that eerie slow-burner remains my favorite from the EP, even over six months after the EP’s release, I was really looking forward to hearing it live. So when I didn’t get to experience the “power ballad” in person, I felt a little bit let down. Aside from that, though, nothing about their set fell short of my expectations. Overall, it was a fun night of live music, and while LIILY wasn’t the main attraction at Indianapolis’ Old National Centre that evening, their intense and engaging stage presence is comparable to many a headliner nowadays.
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